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Lexi Lou sat at a café’s small, round table in the old section of town listening to the live music that filled the night air.  The nearby heat lamp warmed her as she unabashedly took another bite from the large slice of carrot cake in front of her that served as dinner.  Savoring the flavors of the golden raisins and cream cheese frosting that satisfied her craving, she looked about the café.

A quiet crowd filled the outdoor seating, people happily chatting and enjoying the reminder of what life had been like before the pandemic.  Strings of white lights criss-crossed the now-closed streets to form outdoor dining areas.  Masked people strolled the streets, some holding a child’s hand, some holding a dog leash, and others not touching at all.

Lexi used the fork to press the last crumbs from the white china plate and lift them to her mouth.  It was the end of a long workday, and this was her little treat to herself.  Taking one last look at her cozy surroundings made cozier by the fire lamps, Lexi slid her forearm through the straps of her purse and stood from the table.  Although chilly, it was a beautiful night, and the closed antique shops that lined the town’s streets called to her.

Instead of returning to her car, Lexi strolled contentedly along the sidewalk, past the café, and began down the main street, stopping to look into windows or admire a shirted dog.  The high heels that matched the dress she’d worn to work that day clicked on the sidewalk.  Glancing her reflection in a shop window, she stopped her stroll to first smooth her hair and then push it behind one ear.

Sounds of jovial males drew her attention from the shop window.  Lexi smiled as she saw a group of men in silver sports jackets with black lapels across the street.  Dark pants and a skinny, black tie that dated their outfits made her smile.  “Obviously a wedding party,” Lexi thought to herself as she turned back to her window browsing.

Reaching the end of the block, Lexi crossed over to the other side, slowly moving window to window.  One of the shops was piping music to the sidewalk, and she glanced up towards the speaker when a familiar Bee Gees song began to play.  Hesitating in front of the window, her eyes took in its spring decorations, focusing in on gold-trimmed, pink china teacups that rested gracefully on an antique pink cake plate.  For a moment, she allowed her mind to remember that those were the kind of items that were once important to her.  They were items that she’d once sought out and decorated her life with.  Now, they were nothing more than pieces of a life that she no longer had.

“Ouch!”  The word involuntarily escaped her lips as something unseen pushed her and sent her spinning, spinning, spinning.  As she spun, she realized someone was holding on to her, pushing her around and around.

“I know that in a thousand years, I’d fall in love with you again,” a strange man in front of her sang in a perfect falsetto as he pushed her through a box step on the sidewalk.

Struggling to get her bearings, Lexi’s focus landed on the green eyes before her as this stranger waltzed her over the sidewalk, continuing to sing an impressive rendition of “More Than A Woman.”

She finally let out a giggle as she joined him in the last line of the verse, “We can take forever, just a minute at a time.”

A shout of “Woot!” accompanied by clapping and a whistle caused Lexi to look around and notice the rest of the wedding party standing nearby, watching them.

“Hey, my eyes are over here,” the stranger said, still waltzing her around as people at nearby dining tables watched them with smiles on their faces.

Lexi looked back to Mr. Green Eyes and smiled.

“Hi,” he said happily.

“Hi,” she said as the song came to an end and his steps slowed.

“I’m Danny.”

“Lexi Lou.”

Danny smiled widely.  “Is that really your name?”

“Is that really a ‘90s tie you’re wearing?” she countered.

“Ouch,” he said with a grin of confidence that let her know that her comment hadn’t fazed him.

“Danny, we gotta get back,” one of the guys in the group interrupted.

“Who’s getting married?” Lexi asked.

Danny’s youthful face clouded with confusion.  “Married?”

Lexi looked at the group of men in matching outfits and then back to her dance partner.  “No wedding?”

He shook his head, still grinning his impish grin.  “Nope.”

Lexi felt a little wave of relief rush over her.  “So what’s going on?”

“Come find out,” Danny said, confidently taking her hand and following the rest of the silver-jacketed group.

As they rounded a corner a block away, Lexi saw more outdoor diners seated around an outdoor stage.  Danny continued to grasp her hand, leading her through the crowd as he followed his group to the stage.

Pausing next to an empty table and chair, he finally turned to her as his group moved up onto the stage.  “Why don’t you hang out here a while.”

Lexi stood with a confused expression on her face as Danny pulled out a chair.  “Best seat in the house,” he offered.

Glancing around at the other audience members watching her, Lexi slowly lowered herself into the chair as familiar music began to play. 

Danny pushed the chair in for her before asking again, “Seriously, is that really your name?”

Lexi met his emerald-colored eyes again, and something made her want to tell him more.  She gave a small shrug before answering, “It’s Alexa Louise.”

Danny smiled impishly again.  “I like it.”

“Danny, come on,” one of what Lexi now perceived to be his bandmates called from the stage.

“See you in a while,” Danny said as he pushed away from Lexi, trotted quickly up the stage steps, and grabbed the closest microphone.  As the Bee Gees song they’d just heard at the antique shop played, he turned to Lexi and sang, “Suddenly you’re in my life, part of everything I do.”

Lexi dropped her head back in a laugh, thankful that she’d listened to her carrot cake craving.

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